State and Local Government

Summary

This video explains how California’s state laws interact with local governments, including cities, counties, and special districts. It highlights the significant role of local governments in providing services and managing finances, while also examining the state’s influence through mandates, funding shifts, and program realignments. The video covers key changes in local governance over time, such as the redistribution of property taxes to schools and the transfer of responsibilities for health and criminal justice services to counties. Viewers will gain insights into the ongoing debate over the balance of power between state and local authorities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Local governments in California have significant control over services, employee pay, and local decision-making, but state laws can limit their authority.
• 😀 There is ongoing debate in California about whether decisions like banning plastic carryout bags should be made at the state level or the local level.
• 😀 State laws sometimes reduce local control by imposing new regulations, shifting responsibilities, or reallocating funding.
• 😀 Local governments' power has evolved over the years, with many responsibilities, such as social services and health programs, transferred to counties by state laws.
• 😀 The state has shifted property tax revenue distribution to benefit schools and community colleges, allowing the state to spend less on education and redirect resources elsewhere.
• 😀 California’s state and local governments have faced realignment programs where responsibilities in areas like criminal justice and health services were transferred to local governments.
• 😀 The state transferred an ongoing share of its sales tax revenue to counties to help cover costs for supervising offenders and providing services as part of a 2011 program realignment.
• 😀 In the past, local governments focused primarily on regional services like jails and property tax collection, but state policies have increasingly expanded their roles in social and health services.
• 😀 Voter influence has limited the state’s ability to make significant changes to local government responsibilities, particularly in terms of property tax distribution and program realignment.
• 😀 While state laws have historically shifted more responsibility to local governments, future changes may be more difficult as voters have restricted state authority over local finance and duties.

Q & A

What is the role of local governments in California?

Local governments in California, including cities, counties, special districts, and schools, are responsible for a wide range of services. They determine employee compensation, the level of services provided to residents, and manage local programs like health and social services. They also control local finances, including property tax collection.

How much do local governments spend annually in California?

Local governments in California spend over $160 billion annually, which exceeds the state's annual budget.

What powers do local governments have in California?

Local governments have the authority to determine employee pay, manage services for their residents, and implement various local programs. However, their powers are sometimes limited by state laws, and there is ongoing debate about what decisions should be made at the state versus local level.

How does the state of California interact with local governments?

The state interacts with local governments by setting laws that can impact local policies, provide funding for local programs, and sometimes shift responsibilities. For example, the state can impose laws that affect local finances or make small changes to local programs.

What is the debate around decisions like banning plastic carryout bags?

The debate centers on whether certain decisions should be made at the state level, reflecting broader state priorities, or at the local level, reflecting the needs and priorities of local communities.

How have state laws changed the responsibilities of counties in California?

State laws have shifted many responsibilities to counties, such as health and social services programs like CalWORKS, foster care, and even the supervision of offenders under programs like the 2011 realignment.

What is the significance of the state laws regarding property taxes?

State laws that change how property taxes are divided among local governments, particularly schools and community colleges, have been highly controversial. These laws were designed to redirect property tax revenue to schools, which allowed the state to allocate fewer resources for education and use those funds for other state priorities.

What was the impact of the 2011 program realignment in California?

The 2011 program realignment transferred responsibility for supervising offenders from the state to counties, along with the necessary funding. This realignment was part of an effort to reduce overcrowding in state prisons and improve services to offenders, aiming to reduce recidivism.

How have voters reduced the state's authority over local governments?

Voters in California have restricted the state's ability to shift property taxes to schools and community colleges, and making program realignments is now much more difficult. This reduction in state authority means local governments have more control over their finances and responsibilities.

What is the future of local government duties and finance in California?

Given the voter restrictions and reduced state authority over local governments, it is likely that local government duties and finances will change less frequently and less dramatically than in the past.